Trump ordered that the term Homo sapiens be changed to Hetero sapiens. In history books and on websites, the airplane from which the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima will no longer be identified as the Enola Gay, but rather the Enola Straight. Trump also ordered billionaire Mark Cuban, who supported Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, to change his name to Mark American. If he does not do so, he will be charged with terrorism.   read more

Cellulosic biomass, which is ethanol made from switchgrass, wood chips, and other fibrous, non-edible plants, has lagged far behind the goals set by Congress, largely because the cost of production has turned out to be much higher than projected in 2007. In fact, in 2012 the U.S. biofuel industry produced only 20,069 gallons of cellulosic ethanol, compared to the 500 million gallon goal set by EISA.   read more

The National Center for Law & Policy (NCLP) sued in San Diego Superior Court to suspend the yoga program already instituted in half the district’s schools. They claim it promotes Hinduism and teaches religious doctrine in place of state-required physical education. Russell Case of Jois Foundation said, “We’re good Christians that just like to do yoga because it helps us to be better people.”   read more

As a federal judge, he has presided over several high-profile cases, including the perjury and obstruction of justice trial of Vice President Dick Cheney aide Scooter Libby, the perjury trial of pitcher Roger Clemens, and a number of habeas corpus petitions filed by prisoners held at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.   read more

The National Congress of American Indians replied to these remarks by pointing out that the attorney general may certify a tribal court’s eligibility to prosecute non-Indians only “after…concluding that the criminal justice system of the requesting tribe has adequate safeguards in place to protect defendants’ rights.” In addition, the Indian Civil Rights Act guarantees the rights enumerated in the Bill of Rights to all those under the jurisdiction of tribal governments.   read more

There is ample evidence that U.S. horsemeat is not a healthful meat to eat. In the U.S., horses are not raised for slaughter, so horsemeat is made predominantly from former race horses and work horses, which are routinely treated with medications harmful to humans, including the anti-inflammatory phenylbutazone, a known carcinogen that has been found in horsemeat, despite an FDA ban on its administration to any horse sent to slaughter for human consumption.   read more

Forty-six million adults benefited from income-based government aid, either in the form of cash or in-kind assistance (services, goods and vouchers), in 2011, and of this total, 30.4% had a disability. Among those receiving both cash and in-kind assistance, the percentage of beneficiaries with disabilities jumped to 58.3%. In West Virginia, 41.7% of those receiving federal assistance had disabilities, whereas in Arizona, only 25.1% did.   read more

Overall, 12.4% of drivers cut in front of other vehicles and 34.9% failed to yield to a pedestrian. But rich drivers broke the law at a far greater rate: they cut off other cars 29.6% of the time and failed to yield 46.2% of the time, while lower class drivers did so only 7.7% of the time and not at all, respectively.   read more

Mason, who worked on President Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign as a member of its national finance committee and raised funds in Georgia, left private practice to serve as a deputy associate attorney general from April 2009 to February 2012, after which she returned to Alston. In addition to her other specialties, she provided “guidance in government investigations.”   read more

The court case was filed by Luis Lebron, a Navy veteran and single father, who also cared for his mentally disabled mother. Lebron told the Tampa Tribune, “I felt like, I served my country for four years; doesn't that mean anything anymore? I've worked for pretty good companies. I'm going to school; I'm supposed to graduate. I shouldn't be in this position.”   read more

The researchers at the top seven cancer centers hail from 56 countries, but half of them came from just five nations The leading country of origin for U.S.-based cancer researchers is China, which accounts for 21%. Following China is India (10%), Germany and Canada (both 7%), and the United Kingdom (6%).   read more

The civil complaint charges that the McAllen Independent School District violated Brinsdon’s constitutional guarantees when her Spanish teacher, Reyna Santos, demanded the recitation and singing. The student also claims that her school principal, Yvette Cavasos, tried to coerce her into going along with her teacher’s assignments. As an alternative, Brinsdon offered to recite the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish.   read more

For 17 years, Jerry Givens was Virginia’s chief executioner. He was personally responsible for executing 62 people, and felt no remorse for his work during that time. But these days Givens has a whole new take on the death penalty. Since leaving his job 13 years ago, Givens has become one of the state’s biggest opponents of capital punishment.   read more

Despite Urrutia’s lack of diplomatic experience, Santos has insisted that his childhood friend is a man “who has all the qualities to represent our country at this special moment” in its relations with the U.S. A wealthy man, Urrutia showed his support for Santos’ 2010 presidential run even before the campaign began. In February 2010 Urrutia organized a fundraiser at the elite Bogotá Club San Andrés, to which the price of admission was between 600,000 and 1,200,000 pesos per person ($310-$620).   read more

According to the United States State Department’s Human Rights Report, “Three core human rights issues continue to be of concern: citizens’ inability to change their government; limitations on citizens’ civil liberties (including the freedoms of speech, press, assembly, and association); and lack of judicial independence…. political parties are not permitted. The government continued to interfere with privacy and to restrict civil liberties, including usage of the Internet.”   read more

Although the 541 people who serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate (including non-voting delegates in the House) are hardly representative of the United States citizenry as a whole, they are a varied group. Here is a sampling of what some of them used to do before they were elected to serve in Congress.   read more

The report revealed that many young people behind bars in 2010 were not there for violent crimes or robbery. In fact, only 25% were. The largest group of offenders (40%) consisted of drug and probation violators and those committing “status” offenses, such as truancy or illegal possession of alcohol.   read more